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I will admit that I have a phobia of vomiting. So – I am very very careful to limit contact with viruses that cause the stomach flu. One of my pet peeves, however, is the number of people who don’t understand the stomach flu. If I were to count the number of people who say, “well, he didn’t have a fever – therefore, it must just have been something he ate that made him vomit like that,” I would be very wealthy. There have been some that give TYLENOL to their children to PREVENT them from getting sick and those that think ANTIBIOTICS fix all – like colds, flu, and stomach viruses! NO PEOPLE, NO, NO, NO!!!!

So let’s get the facts straight… first of all antibiotics only helps with bacterial infections. Most illnesses are viral and not bacterial. Ear infections – YES, bacterial, Strep Throat – yes, bacterial, Pneumonia – only SOME are – some are bacterial but some are VIRAL. Colds, the regular FLU (as in influenza – not vomiting flu), stomach flu – these my friends are VIRAL. Antibiotics will not help you and will only make you resistant to when you do need to use them.

Tylenol brings fever down – it does not help PREVENT you from getting sick. Even if you have a fever and use Tylenol to bring down the fever – you are still SICK!!! It treats symptoms, not the illness. On top of that – unless the fever makes you very uncomfortable – LEAVE IT ALONE – a fever is your body’s natural way of fighting the virus or infection. Your body raises the temperature to help kill the bad stuff. By taking Tylenol, you are slowing down the help your body is trying to do for you. A fever is your friend … yes, if you are MISERABLE with really high fever, get some help … but if it is that bad, the Tylenol won’t even make your temp go to normal. However, if you can deal with the fever or your child isn’t miserable (by the way, sleeping is not miserable – it is good and will help your child get better sooner) – let the fever help fight the illness.

The “Flu” – the regular flu (the virus that we get offered vaccines for each fall/winter) is almost always accompanied by a fever. If you think you have the flu and you don’t have a fever, you probably don’t have the flu (but with that said, you can still have the flu without fever – it just isn’t that common). Flu is fever with cold like symptoms and lots of fatigue. The flu happens most often between October – March – with the highest chances around January and February most years. Flu usually lasts for a week and then kind of lingers. But note that the STOMACH FLU (see below) is NOT the “THE FLU.” We call it the stomach flu but it is not the influenza virus!

The STOMACH FLU - this is not really a flu. It is a virus that causes vomiting, diarrhea, and usually lasts under 12 hours. This is when you start feeling sick – are throwing up every hour or so – and after a few hours (sometimes just a couple to up to 12 – longer if it is a nasty case of Rotavirus) start to feel better. You have to eat slowly to get your stomach used to food again. This virus does not cause a fever in most people. So – if you or your child throws up multiple times in a few hour span but doesn’t have a fever – they are still SICK!! Don’t think that if they don’t have a fever – it must just be “something they ate.” Most of the time, it is not something they ate (in all my life, I have had the stomach bug multiple times and only ONCE was it from “something I ate.”). If they vomit only once and they can eat fine – then YES, they probably are not sick. But … multiple times (and yes with no fever) – guess what – they have a stomach virus. Do they need to go see the doctor? NO! Well, in most cases. We were in the ER once and a family brought in their 2 year old to the ER because their child threw up in church – SERIOUSLY??!! Take him home, let him rest, give him sips of water and wait a couple hours to see what happens. Now, if you or your child is dehydrated or seems REALLY ill – yes, go to the doctors or hospital – but not just because they threw up in church or school! And don’t take your child out with you! They are still contagious – remember the misery they just went through? Don’t inflict that on others! Don’t send them to school – don’t take them into Walmart – don’t use the bathroom at McDonalds when you are out. If your child is sick – if you are sick – please STAY HOME! These viruses are VERY contagious. Did you know that they can live on surfaces in your house for 2 weeks or more? So, if your child is sick and a week later when your child has been well for 6 days – they have a friend come over – if you missed a spot when cleaning – or maybe you didn’t go nuts with bleach like I do after someone in my house is sick – well, that friend could catch it! Yes, a week later – at your house – long after your child has been well! Finally, after throwing up, your child may become thirsty. They will want to down a large glass of a drink – and guess what? it will probably come back up!!! You need to offer small sips, spread apart – after each vomiting episode, let the stomach rest for at least 1 hour before starting anything to drink. Give a small ice chip if your child is “dying of thirst.” Yes, we want them hydrated but don’t overdo it when the tummy is not happy!

So – to summarize…

Antibiotics only work on bacterial infections – colds, stomach bugs, and the flu are NOT bacterial!

The FLU is the regular winter flu – it generally does not cause vomiting – and usually does have a fever but is different from the Stomach Flu!

The STOMACH FLU – or STOMACH BUG – usually does not a fever – that is the norm – do you hear me??? NO FEVER!!! And yes your child is sick – and NO – it is probably not the candy they ate if they have thrown up multiple times – the candy – that would be a single event!

DON’T rush to the ER and doctors as soon as your child throws up in most cases – the doctor will tell you “your child has a stomach virus – gradually increase liquids, don’t let them dehydrate and put them on a bland diet (BRAT diet) until they feel better. Think before you act! Although if something isn’t right – then go to ER!

DON’T take your child out in public when they are sick! Think of others!!! And remember that the virus can live in your house for weeks!!!

One last thing? How can I stop the Stomach Flu? The obvious answer is hand washing (lots of it!) especially before eating!! But, I also have researched and have had excellent personal experience with 2 supplements: Echinachea (take as soon as you are exposed or start feeling sick) and Vitamin D3 (about 5000 IU’s per day) – not just the amount in your calcium supplement (that is only about 400 IU’s per day). If you don’t believe me – look at the research! Both of these have helped me from getting sick and I swear by them!

Disclaimer: I am not a medical doctor and this advice is based on medical fact about viruses and bacterial illnesses as well as personal experiences of a mother of four.